Lidia Thorpe pushed to ground by police after clash with anti-trans protesters

Senator Lidia Thorpe has been forcibly removed by police from a “pro-women” protest on the Parliament House lawn.

Lidia Thorpe has been pushed to the ground by police after she attempted to take the stage at a protest on the lawn of Parliament House.

Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull held a rally on the lawn on Thursday afternoon following similar demonstrations in Melbourne and Tasmania.

Fewer than 30 protesters gathered to hear her speak, while a short distance away, hundreds of trans-right activists were gathered.

In footage shared online, the independent senator – draped in an Aboriginal flag – was pushed to the ground by police as she attempted to crawl away before standing back up and walking over to the larger group.

Lidia Thorpe was forced to the ground by police after she tried to disrupt British trans critic Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull's speech at the Let Women Speak rally outside Parliament House. Picture: Twitter

Senator Thorpe said transphobes did not belong on Aboriginal land. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Speaking to media after, Senator Thorpe said Australia “should be ashamed that they even let people like this in this country”, and transphobes were not welcome on Aboriginal land.

“I went to tell her one thing – that they are not welcome here,” she said.

“And I got pulverised by the police.

“I’ve been assaulted by the police today as an (Indigenous) woman, and the police need to answer for the assault, and also this government needs to answer why these people are allowed into this country.”

‘Women’s rights’ activist ‘Posie Parker’ held a rally outside Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Trans rights activists flocked to the lawn to show their support. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

‘The Australian Federal Police said it was aware of an “incident” at the protest.

“The AFP is aware of a matter relating to protests near Australian Parliament House,” a statement read.

“The interactions between the AFP and protesters will be reviewed, and an incident has been referred to the AFP’s Professional Standards Command.

“Given a matter is now under investigation, no further comments will be made.”

Greens senator Janet Rice joined trans-rights activists. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

More than a hundred trans-rights activists braved the rain to show their support. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Keen-Minshull, who goes by “Posie Parker”, was supported by Pauline Hanson and party mate Malcolm Roberts as well as United Australia Party’s Ralph Babet.

Senator Babet said it was “cowardly” no one from the Coalition had turned out to support Ms Parker.

Meanwhile, those gathered opposite loudly chanted “Posie Parker you can’t hide, you’ve got Nazis on your side” – in reference to the neo-Nazis who joined her rally in Melbourne on the weekend.

Greens senator Janet Rice was among the group.

AFP have confirmed they are aware of the incident involving Senator Thorpe. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Originally published as Lidia Thorpe pushed to ground by police after clash with anti-trans protesters